The first-ever West End revival of Peter Barnes' 1968 play The Ruling Class begins performances Jan. 16 at the West End's Trafalgar Studios, prior to a gala opening Jan. 28, for a run through April 11.

James McAvoy
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

The production stars James McAvoy as Jack, a possible paranoid schizophrenic with a Messiah complex, who inherits the title of the 14th Earl of Gurney after his father passes away in a bizarre accident. Singularly unsuited to a life in the upper echelons of elite society, he finds himself at the centre of a ruthless power struggle as his scheming family strives to uphold their reputation.

McAvoy previously played the title role in the opening production of director Jamie Lloyd's first Trafalgar Transformed season, Macbeth, and his return marks the final production in Lloyd's second season there.

In an earlier press statement, McAvoy said, "I had an incredible time in Trafalgar Transformed's Macbeth and couldn't wait to find something else to work on with Jamie Lloyd. Jamie, his producing partners and their team are committed to making theatre that is accessible to all. I love being a part of that and it has been great to see them transform the demographic of their West End audience, not least with the inspiring £15 Mondays initiative. I can't wait to play this challenging role in Barnes' forgotten masterpiece. This play combines all the things that Jamie's seasons are about, and for me what theatre is when it's at its best: it is wild, funny, shocking, subversive and brutal, and, most importantly, entertaining."

McAvoy, who is a BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor whose films include "Filth," "The Last King of Scotland," "Atonement" and "X-Men," has also previously appeared on the West End stage in Lloyd's production of Three Days of Rain and in Breathing Corpses (Royal Court), Privates on Parade (Donmar Warehouse) and Out in the Open (Hampstead).